Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-09-15
pEEP cultivation.
Why Successful Farmer, Prefer Il
shallow Flowing.


When the earth IS parchcd with
thirst and opens wide its mouths in
mute appeals for water. and all
vegetation withcrs and fails To grow,
any information that can give the
farmer light as to how hc can best
overcome these blighting influences
will surely add silver to his purse un-
less having eyes he sees not
There is perhaps no better prevent
i've Of the effects of long, protracted
drought than deep and thorough culti-
walton. This should commence not
with the drought, but with the prepare
ton Of the soil for the crops. Other
wise, IL it be deferred until the ground
is dry and hard it breaks up in chunks,
severing the roots and otherwise dam
aging what it was intended to
strengthen.
Perhaps the most successful grape
growers we have are from France and
Germany. There il is the custom in
preparing the ground for vines 10
spade it up deep. frequently two or
three feet. The depth and amount of
cultivation will depend very much on
the kind OF sol and the crop TO be
raised.
In the compact clayoy soils Of Indi-
ana we rolled the ground to soften the
clods. In the alluyinl bottom lands Of
Kansas We rolled to pack IL; especially
In spring after the frost went out the
wheat was rolled.
By compression. rs on our roads. or
by long standing as in our fallow fields,
the ground becomes hard aud the pores
are closed and evaporation is rapid
aud during n protrac,cd drought is
thorough. rs can be proved by digging
in the uncultiyatcd fields or in the pub
lie highways. An inch or two Of the
Lest cultivated dust only modiiies the
general effect. This shallow cultivl-
tion only serves rs check for the great
crcyasscs that would otherwise be
formed in the earth, admitting Of
Wholesale evaporation II moisture. and
in no way contributing to the great
design In cultivation, which Is TO hold
the moisture around the roots Of grow
ing vegetation. II stirring and culti-
waiting thoroughly two inches Of the
surface is simply to break these tubes
that this shallow cultivation theory
supposes to be- carrying or the water
80 rapidly, then board, or q stone, or
q mulch win do as we'll But our best
results are not obtained that way. Plow
deep aud thoroughly cultivate, not less
than six to eight inches for dry wealth
er, then the roots Of your crops will be
surrounded with porous covering
like a sponge filed with air and water,
and the more the ground is stirred
the more air aud water, because
the particles Of matter are kept further
apart, leaving more room, and as air Is
non-conductOr Of heat the ground
will not become so parched so will
evaporation be retarded; IL light
showers come the moisture will 90
down deeper not to be eyapOratcd by
the FIRST hours sunshine; 80 also by
capillary attraction will moisture come
from below. In "a, the great drought,
chinch bug. grasshoppcr year in Kan
saA a piece Of bottom land was pl0wed
deep and well and deeply cultivated
six times. Result, vigorous growth.
large stalks and ears, while most OF
the corn with three 10 four plowngs
shallow had very small. withered stalks
and chany corn. r. W. Curtis. OF
Olathe, Kan, n successful farmer oi
thirty years experience, and firm be,
liever In deep cultivation. had two
fields rented out to different persons.
one Of the very dry seasons. same Kind
Of soil and about the same number oI
plowings, the one deep. the other shall
low. lie bought the corn and guessed
IL off the shallow plowing at fifteen
bnshols, the deep at sixty bushels pei
acre. Our Llost successful farmers. 50
far IS heard from. are almost unani-
mously IN favor Of deep cultivation -
Kansas Citg ResferR CAroniele